Negroni Week 2026 Brings Riviera Maya Bartenders to Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Negroni Week 2026 is drawing bartenders from across Mexico and the international cocktail scene to Playa del Carmen, where the local restaurants La Perla Pixán and La Carbonería are hosting a seven-day mixology festival through Sept. 27.

The program combines cocktail service, exhibitions, meetups and special events built around the Negroni, the equal-parts Italian classic of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.

Giovana Pellegrini, founder of both La Perla Pixán and La Carbonería, said the bartenders taking part will put on a show behind the bar this year.

She said the festival also serves to lift morale and generate revenue as the restaurants head into low season, with debts to manage and the challenge of covering wages for the 50 families who depend on the business.

Pellegrini added that organizers look to add new attractions each year, and that the 2026 edition has drawn a larger group of bars and restaurants inspired by La Perla Pixán to join in.

Flair Bartending Opens the Week

The festival opened Monday, Sept. 21, with Marco Anaya and Erick Ricardez presenting their own take on the Negroni alongside a flair bartending demonstration of technique and showmanship. Sonido Chingón provided the music and energy for the opening night.

Other participants include Jorge Moneda, Enrico Fiore, Mateo Arellano, Juan Rodríguez, Vero Muñoz, Roberto Manzanilla, Ricardo Ramírez, Alberto Zorrilla, Cristo Piñeiro, Giovanna Vargas, Samuel Álvarez and Ramón Porraz.

A music lineup accompanies the rest of the week:

• Tuesday, Sept. 22: DJ Daco with a vinyl set and tropical vibe
• Wednesday, Sept. 23: DJ Sahito and his Vinyl DJ Set
• Thursday, Sept. 24: DJ Oskar Leyva
• Friday, Sept. 25: DJ Pinshe Lore
• Saturday, Sept. 26: live music from Son del’ Barrio

A Platform for Talent Behind the Bar

Flair bartending is one of the main attractions of this year’s edition. The discipline blends technique, coordination, creativity and spectacle, and in recent years has found a significant stage for development in the Riviera Maya.

The region’s ties to national and international tourism have helped flair bartending build an increasingly active and visible community. For many young people starting out behind a bar, events like this offer a chance to showcase their skills, gain experience, connect with professionals and build careers in an industry with international reach.

Organizers say Negroni Week 2026 also aims to recognize and give visibility to those who have turned bartending into a profession and a high-level discipline, strengthening the cocktail community across the Riviera Maya.

Closing Night Features Perfect Negroni

The festival wraps up Sunday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m., when La Escuelita Pixán hosts Perfect Negroni, a product presentation by Destilería Solferino Native. Entry is free.

Loope de la Sierra will close the night with cumbia and groove.